Ally McCoist is married to Vivien Ross, a former events manager who has been part of the Scottish football legend’s life for more than two decades. The couple married in New York in May 2014 after spending several years together. McCoist, best known for his remarkable career with Rangers and his successful transition into football commentary, shares two sons, Arran and Harris, with Vivien. He was previously married to Allison Mitchell, with whom he has three sons.
Although McCoist remains one of the most recognizable personalities in British football, his wife has largely avoided public attention. Their relationship has continued through major changes in his professional career, including his time as Rangers manager and his growing popularity as a television and radio commentator. While McCoist frequently discusses football and his experiences in the sport, he generally keeps his marriage and children away from the spotlight.
Who Is Ally McCoist’s Wife Vivien Ross?
Vivien Ross is the second wife of former Scottish international footballer Ally McCoist. She previously worked as an events manager and became known publicly through her long-term relationship with the Rangers legend.
Vivien is reportedly around 12 years younger than McCoist, who was born on September 24, 1962, in Bellshill, Scotland. Unlike her husband, she has never pursued a high-profile career in television or professional sports.
Her background in event management involved organizing and coordinating professional and social occasions. However, specific information about her former employers and career responsibilities has not been widely documented.
Despite being married to a prominent football personality, Vivien has maintained a relatively private lifestyle. She rarely participates in interviews and does not regularly appear in entertainment coverage.
Her public profile increased around the time of her marriage to McCoist in 2014, when details of their wedding attracted attention.
Since then, she has remained primarily associated with her family rather than public appearances.
When Did Ally McCoist and Vivien Ross Get Married?
Ally McCoist and Vivien Ross married in May 2014 during a ceremony in New York.
The wedding followed a long relationship that had already lasted more than a decade.
Their decision to marry in the United States attracted attention because McCoist was one of Scotland’s most recognizable sporting personalities.
At the time, he was managing Rangers and dealing with the significant responsibilities associated with rebuilding the club following its financial difficulties.
Despite his demanding professional schedule, McCoist traveled to New York for the wedding.
The marriage marked an important personal milestone after years together and the birth of their two children.
Unlike many celebrity weddings, the couple did not turn the occasion into a major publicity event.
Details about the guest list, ceremony arrangements and celebrations have remained relatively limited.
Their approach reflected the privacy they had maintained throughout much of their relationship.
How Did Ally McCoist Meet Vivien Ross?
Ally McCoist and Vivien Ross began their relationship several years before marrying in 2014.
The couple had reportedly been together for more than a decade by the time they exchanged wedding vows.
Their relationship developed during a period when McCoist was transitioning from his playing career into coaching and television work.
After retiring from professional football, he became increasingly involved in sports broadcasting and later returned to Rangers in a coaching capacity.
Vivien was part of his life during several of these professional changes.
Although the couple’s relationship has been widely acknowledged, the precise circumstances of their first meeting have not been extensively documented.
Neither has publicly shared a detailed account of their first date or the early stages of their romance.
What is clear is that their relationship continued for many years before they decided to marry.
By the time of their wedding, they had already established a family together.
How Many Children Do Ally McCoist and Vivien Ross Have?
Ally McCoist and Vivien Ross have two sons together, named Arran and Harris.
Their children have generally remained outside public attention despite their father’s successful career in football and broadcasting.
McCoist has occasionally discussed family life during interviews, but he has not made his children’s personal experiences a regular subject of media coverage.
The couple has preferred to provide their sons with a relatively private upbringing.
Arran and Harris are part of McCoist’s larger family, which includes three sons from his previous marriage.
As a father of five, McCoist has balanced family responsibilities with a demanding professional career spanning several decades.
His work has involved extensive travel, television appearances, international football tournaments and regular broadcasting commitments.
Although his career keeps him in the public eye, detailed information about his children’s education and personal interests remains limited.
Who Was Ally McCoist’s First Wife Allison Mitchell?
Before marrying Vivien Ross, Ally McCoist was married to Allison Mitchell.
The former couple married in 1990, during the early years of McCoist’s highly successful career with Rangers.
At the time, he was establishing himself as one of the most prolific goalscorers in Scottish football.
Their marriage lasted for more than a decade before ending in divorce in 2004.
McCoist and Allison share three sons, Alexander, Mitchell and Argyll.
Their relationship attracted considerable attention because McCoist was already a major public figure in Scotland.
During their marriage, he enjoyed numerous professional achievements, including domestic league titles and individual scoring awards.
However, the relationship eventually broke down, leading to their separation and subsequent divorce.
The former couple’s personal circumstances were discussed in the media, although McCoist has generally avoided revisiting every detail of the marriage publicly.
Following the divorce, he continued his relationship with Vivien Ross, whom he later married.
Ally McCoist’s Five Sons and Family Life
Ally McCoist is the father of five sons from his two marriages.
His three older sons, Alexander, Mitchell and Argyll, are from his marriage to Allison Mitchell.
His younger sons, Arran and Harris, are from his relationship with Vivien Ross.
Although McCoist’s professional life has been extensively documented, he has maintained a degree of privacy around his children.
His family includes sons from different stages of his life, including the period when he was an active footballer and his later career in management and broadcasting.
McCoist has experienced significant professional changes while raising his family.
His retirement from football, move into television and return to Rangers as a manager all brought different demands on his time.
Despite these responsibilities, family has remained an important part of his personal life.
His marriage to Vivien has continued while he has established himself as one of the most popular football commentators in Britain.
Ally McCoist’s Career With Rangers
Ally McCoist is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in Rangers’ history.
He began his professional career with St Johnstone before moving to Sunderland in 1981.
In 1983, he joined Rangers, where he would spend the most successful years of his playing career.
McCoist quickly developed a reputation as a clinical striker with an exceptional ability to score goals.
He became Rangers’ all-time leading goalscorer, scoring 355 league goals and 251 additional goals across domestic and European competitions, giving him a club-record total of 355 league goals and 251 in other competitions.
During his time at Rangers, he won ten Scottish league championships and numerous domestic cup competitions.
His goalscoring performances earned him the European Golden Shoe in consecutive seasons, 1991-92 and 1992-93.
McCoist also represented Scotland internationally, earning 61 caps and scoring 19 goals.
His achievements established him as one of the most recognizable figures in Scottish football.
After leaving Rangers, he completed his playing career with Kilmarnock before retiring in 2001.
Ally McCoist’s Time as Rangers Manager
Following his retirement, Ally McCoist eventually returned to Rangers in a coaching capacity.
He worked as an assistant under Walter Smith before becoming the club’s manager in 2011.
His appointment came during a particularly challenging period in Rangers’ history.
The club experienced serious financial difficulties and entered administration in 2012.
Rangers subsequently began competing in the lower divisions of Scottish football.
McCoist remained in charge during this difficult period and helped guide the team through its early stages of rebuilding.
His managerial responsibilities attracted significant media attention because of the club’s financial circumstances and the expectations of its supporters.
He eventually left his managerial position in 2014.
The same year also marked his marriage to Vivien Ross in New York.
Following his departure from management, McCoist gradually returned to broadcasting, where he developed another successful career.
Ally McCoist’s Broadcasting Career and Television Popularity
Ally McCoist has become one of Britain’s most recognizable football commentators and television personalities.
After retiring from professional football, he appeared regularly on sports television and became known for his approachable personality and sense of humor.
He gained considerable popularity through his appearances on the television quiz show A Question of Sport.
McCoist later established himself as a prominent football pundit and co-commentator.
His broadcasting work has included major international tournaments, domestic football competitions and European club matches.
He has appeared on television coverage for ITV Sport and contributed to football discussions on talkSPORT.
His enthusiastic commentary style has earned praise from viewers who appreciate his knowledge of football and natural reactions during matches.
Unlike some former players who focus exclusively on tactical analysis, McCoist combines football expertise with humor and personal observations.
His broadcasting career has introduced him to younger audiences who may not have watched him during his playing days.
Throughout this period, Vivien has remained largely outside his professional activities.
What Is Ally McCoist’s Net Worth?
Ally McCoist has accumulated wealth through his long career as a professional footballer, manager and broadcaster.
His playing career with Rangers included significant earnings, particularly during the club’s successful period in Scottish football.
After retiring, he continued generating income through television appearances, coaching responsibilities and broadcasting contracts.
His managerial role at Rangers also attracted considerable attention because of the financial circumstances surrounding the club.
In recent years, his work as a football commentator and media personality has become an important part of his professional career.
Various online estimates have placed McCoist’s wealth in the multimillion-pound range.
However, his exact net worth has not been independently verified through publicly available financial disclosures.
His wife Vivien’s personal financial circumstances are also not publicly documented.
As a result, claims about the couple’s combined wealth should be treated as estimates rather than confirmed figures.
Is Ally McCoist Still Married to Vivien Ross?
As of October 2026, Ally McCoist remains publicly known to be married to Vivien Ross, with no confirmed announcement of a separation.
The couple married in May 2014 after spending more than a decade together.
Their marriage has continued during McCoist’s transition from football management into his successful broadcasting career.
Vivien has generally maintained her privacy while McCoist remains a familiar voice on television and radio.
Together, they share two sons, Arran and Harris, while McCoist also has three sons from his previous marriage.
Although public curiosity about his wife and family continues, McCoist has generally kept his personal relationships separate from his professional achievements.
His marriage to Vivien remains an important part of his life beyond football, while his achievements as a Rangers legend and popular commentator continue to define his public career.